Parade paraded proudly on Peppermint Creek’s stage tonight — beautifully realized through the lofty, challenging, Jason Robert Brown music flung passionately at us by the talented cast of 24, with music director Seth Burk leading his nine-piece orchestra. Period costumes by Katy Kettles enhanced the show, with Tim Fox’s well lit, handsome and versatile set allowing the action to flow, seamlessly directed by Jane Falion with artistic choreography by Karyn Perry.

The book, by Alfred Uhry, is based on historical events of 100 years ago, the "tragic, true story of the trial and lynching of a man wrongly accused of murder.” It certainly supports Peppermint’s mission to present theatre that makes us think… and this time not very highly, of the tribalistic, bigoted, self-serving, citizens of Georgia — and by extension, many similarly motivated factions, today. How much have we/haven’t we changed?

The evolving love story between the accused, Leo Frank (Adam Woolsey) and his wife (Mary Maurer)— both outstanding singers and actors —plus the governor’s (Bob Purosky) change of heart, gave us threads of hope for humanity, and people to root for. All the singers were good, mastering tricky music — with standout voices from Ben Cassidy, Joe Baumann, Joe Quick, Benjamin Knapp, and Rachael Raymer.